Car-coupling.



Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. SMITH, OF SHELBY, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SiECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,764, dated March 14, 1905. Application filed June 18, 1904. Serial No. 218,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. SMITH, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Shelby, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Oar-Couplings; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved carcoupling; and the essential feature thereof comprises peculiar means for operating the coupling-hooks of the draw-heads in effecting the uncoupling of the cars. The uncoupling mechanism is particularly designed for actuation without any danger of injury to the operator, since it is not necessary that he pass between the cars, as is requisite in the practical use of many styles of couplers at present adopted.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

\rVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modilication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a pair of draw-heads coupled together, parts being arranged in operative position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the lifting member of one of the draw-heads being shown engaged with the adjacent hook preparatory to uncoupling. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the operating-shaft carrying the lifting-arm.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The draw-heads 1 shown in the drawings may be of any suitable form having the necessary substantiality requisite in devices of the type to which my invention relates, and each of said draw-heads is provided with the usual open end, within which the ends of the coupling pin or link may be received. The openings 2 in the ends of the draw-heads taper toward their inner extremities, and hooks :3 are pivoted in the upper portions of the draw-heads 1 and adapted to engage the end portions of the links 4 in the usual manner. The hooks 3 are pivoted at their outer ends, being seated in recesses 5, formed in the upper portions of the draw-heads. The innermost ends of the hooks are designed to engage the ends of the link or coupling device L, and said hooks are preferably gravity-operated. The means for uncoupling each'of the drawheads comprises a transverse shaft 6, mounted beneath the adjacent hook 3 in suitable bearings provided in the draw-head carrying the same. The shaft 6 extends laterally from the draw-head, and the outer ends of the same project to a point adjacent the side of the car, being provided with a crank-handle 7, by which the shaft is operated. The shaft 6 of the draw-head l is provided with an actuating member which is adapted to engage the hook of said draw-head so as to lift this hook to raise the same out of engagement with the link 1, and this actuating member consists of an arm 8, projecting upwardly from the shaft and across the opening 2 of the draw-head. The arm 8 is adapted for a pivotal movement by actuation of the shaft 6, to which the same is secured, and the under side of the draw-head is provided with an elongated opening 9, in which the arm 8 is normally received when the drawheads of the cars are coupled together. The outer end of the arm 8 is designed to engage the hook 3 adjacent, so as to raise the hook, and when said arm is in the engagement aforesaid the same is disposed in the path of movement of the link or coupling device 1.

The above-described movement of the arm 8 with reference to the link 4 embodies an important advantage, in that as the hook 3 is lifted from engagement with the link 4 the Withdrawal of the link from the draw-head will cause the same to engage the arm 8 to throw the latter forwardly and downwardly into the opening 9, which latter movement frees the hook, so that the said hook will drop to its normal engaging position.

The operation of the coupling is as follows: The arm 8 being disposed in its normal posi tion in the opening 9, as the cars approach each other the end of the link is forced into the draw-head in the usual way and is engaged by the hook 3, which moves by gravity, as before premised. \Vhen itis desired to uncouple the cars, the operator, standing to one side of the car, grasps the crank-handle 7, and by rotating the shaft 6 the arm or actuating member 8 is raised and caused to engage the hook 3 thereabove. The hook having been disengaged as the cars separate, the end link 4 strikes the inner side of the arm 8 and pulls same outwardly, and in so doing forces the arm downwardly into its normal position in the opening 9, resetting the same, in other words, preparatory to its further operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head, a cou1 )linghook, a coupling device for said hook, and an actuating member normally out of the path of movement ofthe coupling device and adapted to engage said hook in the uncoupling operation, the actuating member, when engaging the hook, being in the path of uncoupling movement of the coupling device, whereby as the coupling device is withdrawn from the draw-head, same actuates the engaging member to restore it to its normal position.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head, a coupling-hook mounted in the upper portion of said draw-head, a link, ashaft mounted transversely of the draw-head, a lifting-arm projected from said shaft and located forward of that part of the hook engaging the link and normally out of the path of movement of the link, said arm being mounted beneath the coupling-hook and adapted to be projected upwardly so as to engage said hook, said arm being received by the link and in the path of movement of said link when engaging the hook, whereby as the link is withdrawn from the draw-head same will actuate the arm and restore it to its normal position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F ANK G. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

S. F. STAMBAUGH, J. H. KNIsnLY. 

